By Sam Ramos
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Davao Region (DENR-Davao) is investigating Councilor Bernie Al-ag’s recent trek in the upland area of Barangay Tagurano, which has been closed to the public since May 7, 2024, following a directive from the DENR’s Protected Area Management Office (PAMO).
DENR-Davao Regional Director Atty. Ma. Mercedes V. Dumagan confirmed on October 29 that an investigation is underway to determine if Al-ag violated restrictions and could face penalties. “I am waiting for the investigating team’s report, and they may hold a technical conference to assess the case,” Dumagan said.
Strict Protection Zones (SPZs), such as parts of Mount Apo, are off-limits to activities like trekking, according to DENR-Davao officer-in-charge Clint Michael B. Cleofe. Violators may face fines between PhP 5, 000 to PhP 100, 000 and possible jail time. The DENR divides Mount Apo into SPZs, reserved for scientific research and indigenous rituals, and Multiple Use Zones (MUZs), which allow controlled eco-tourism and sustainable activities, as mandated by the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, Republic Act No. 7586.
Over half of Mount Apo’s Davao side falls under the SPZ classification, where trekking and construction are restricted. The DENR has issued cease-and-desist orders against structures in Tagurano’s SPZ since 2022, requiring self-demolition to avoid fines of PhP 100, 000 to PhP 200, 000 under the Mount Apo Protected Area Act of 2003. Dumagan mentioned that the city could propose opening a trail in Tagurano if reclassified as an MUZ following a biodiversity assessment by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).
Environmental advocates, including Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) led by executive director Atty. Mark Peñalver, emphasize the need for strict regulations on eco-tourism in protected areas. “We support eco-tourism in Tagurano but insist on managing visitor capacity and activities to protect the environment,” Peñalver said. He added that community management of eco-tourism should be prioritized over private resorts.
Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo stated on October 22 that the city government is in the process of seeking DENR approval to open trails for public use, but this would require careful evaluations. Peñalver stressed that Tagurano’s SPZ status prohibits activities like trekking unless explicitly permitted, urging lawmakers to respect these restrictions as a safeguard for biodiversity.